Planning

MH Act Code of Practice - Lived Experience Advisory Groups 2026

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Mar 2026 at 15:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC), located in London, is initiating a procurement process for the project titled "MH Act Code of Practice – Lived Experience Advisory Groups 2026," within the social research services industry category. Currently in the planning stage, this procurement aims to engage suppliers to provide insights from individuals with lived experience of the Mental Health Act. The procurement process, scheduled through an Open Procedure, comprises four distinct lots, focusing on various groups such as general lived experience, children and young people, individuals with learning disabilities and autism, and ethnic minority communities. The deadline for the questionnaire submission is set for 25th March 2026, and a preliminary market engagement event is planned to gather supplier feedback, scheduled for 25th April 2026.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in social research services to expand their portfolio by engaging in meaningful work that impacts mental health policy. It offers the chance to co-produce engagement methods and deliver tailored activities that shape the Mental Health Act's updated Code of Practice, a crucial aspect for potential bidders. The estimated contract value totals £333,500, with options extending it further. Suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, this tender can foster growth by providing insights into market capabilities and encouraging innovation in engagement methods. Interested businesses can access documents through the Atamis system, facilitating participation and promoting competition in the market.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

MH Act Code of Practice - Lived Experience Advisory Groups 2026

Notice Description

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is seeking suppliers to deliver a programme of engagement with people who have lived experience of the Mental Health Act, ensuring their perspectives meaningfully inform the drafting of the updated Code of Practice. This includes recruiting a diverse cohort of participants, co producing engagement methods, delivering structured and ad hoc engagement activities, safeguarding participant wellbeing, and providing high quality report that include summary of engagement, feedback and views. We are sharing the draft specifications, proposed procurement approach, draft contract and timetable with the market to invite feedback from potential bidders. It is the intention of DHSC to conduct this Tender under an Open Procedure divided into 4 different lots. Values are exclusive of VAT: * Lot 1: Group 1 - General lived experience PS86,500 plus option PS106,500 * Lot 2: Group 2 - Children and young people PS40,500 plus option PS60,500 * Lot 3: Group 3 - People with a learning disability and autistic people PS72,500 plus options PS92,500 * Lot 4: Group 4 - Ethnic minority and racialised communities PS54,000 plus options PS74,000 Estimated value of contracts (all lots) PS253,000 + options PS80,000 total PS333,500 excluding vat. Term of the contract: An initial term of twelve (12) months, with the option to extend for one or more further periods up to a maximum of six (6) months. The contract includes an option to add additional hours of engagement if needed. This is not a call for competition, but an opportunity to gather feedback to better understand market capabilities, refine the procurement strategy, and encourage supplier engagement.

Planning Information

As part of the preliminary market‑engagement phase, this project will include two key elements. a) First, a virtual event delivered in collaboration with the Mental Health Act Implementation Team, offering interested suppliers an overview of the objectives and requirements for the upcoming contractual opportunity. Suppliers will find the link to this virtual event included in the preliminary market engagement documentation. b) Second, suppliers will be invited to complete a structured questionnaire designed to gather insight that will support our understanding of: • Market capability and innovation • Strengthening procurement strategy and specification development • Encouraging supplier participation and competition Interested parties can access the relevant premarket engagement documents via the Atamis system at https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome using the contract reference. Suppliers may also submit the completed questionnaire through Atamis but must be registered on the system to do so. Alternatively, questionnaires can be submitted by email to ccsinbox@dhsc.gov.uk quoting “MH Act Code of Practice – Lived Experience Advisory Groups 2026” no later than 25/03/2026 at 5pm The input by suppliers may help shape the final approach and procurement strategy. A questionnaire is also available for suppliers to complete, allowing them to provide comments and raise any additional questions.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06658e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020989-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£333,500 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Mar 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Apr 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
12 Jul 2026 - 12 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 0EU
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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